Ontology of the communication performance prospects of building information modelling adoption among project teams in construction project delivery

The need for improved communication performance among project teams has significantly underlined the increased adoption of many computer-based tools and information communication technology (ICT) in project delivery in the construction industry. Though the literature has espoused the key benefits of Building Information Modelling (BIM), relatively less attention has been paid to the communication performance influence of BIM to profession-specific tasks and wider industry adoption. The primary aim of this study is to assess the communication performance prospects of BIM adoption among project teams in construction project delivery. Using deductive research design, a structured questionnaire survey was conducted on 52 experienced construction industry practitioners in the use of BIM tools in project delivery. The results indicated a significant influence of BIM adoption to accuracy, understanding, timeliness and improvement in the dissemination of shared project related information among project teams. However, contrary to opinion espoused in literature, there was no significant impact on overcoming underloading, overloading and gatekeeping issues in communicated information among the team. The findings provide empirical support into the perceived communication benefits of BIM adoption and thus this knowledge can be an overriding impetus to extensive adoption of BIM tools across all the project life cycle to enhance communication in the construction industry.